The Proposal by Katie Ashley Review and Interview with Emma

STOP RIGHT HERE if you haven’t read The Proposition by Katie Ashley, and read my review of that here. Gifs of Emma and Aiden used here reflect Katie Ashley’s casting and her love of gifs. There may be slight spoilers in this review and interview. Impossible not to!

The Proposal picks of right where The Proposition left off, with me (and Emma) like:

But really, Aiden was, or seemed to be pretty awesome in The Proposition…….till he fucked up royally. The Proposal is all about Aiden trying to make up for his mistake, and get Emma and baby-to-be Noah back. You know right away that Aiden knows what a doucheshnozzle he was, and he will do anything…ANYTHING for Emma’s forgiveness, except those three tiny words we all know he means.

So he is feeling majorly sorry for himself a lot….

“A hopeful look entered his tortured eyes. “I’d give anything and everything in this world to redeem myself with you. Just please, please give me the chance.”

But when Emma has a little complication from the pregnancy, she is rushed to the hospital and meets Dr. Pesh, who immediately sees Emma for the gem she is. And let me tell you…..Pesh is………

And Emma’s pregnancy hormones are going a little crazy. There is Pesh, a stable, gorgeous Doctor, who knows she is pregnant, totally making the moves on Emma, and being the perfect guy she needs!

But Emma needs to stay on bedrest. The only person who can take care of her 24/7 is Aiden. He even takes a leave of absence from work. And let me tell you…..Pesh is NOT Aiden’s favorite guy!

But Aiden keeps being a perfect swoony sweetie pie . And when he gets Noah a onesie that says this, I was done. Aiden had me. There was no going back from this, Aiden won me over, lock, stock and barrel.

“I’m cute, Mommy’s cute, and Daddy’s…” She tore her gaze up to meet his. “Daddy’s lucky,” he finished for her.“

I will say this…..Aiden grew a bit of a vagina in this story. Yes, he should be repentant, but he was just a bit too much of a pussy at times. At least he freely admits it though.

“Just make sure Casey knows that I wear my alleged vagina with pride, not because she took my manhood with that purse of hers, but because I want to be a better man for you.”

But then it’s Emma’s turn to do something totally stupid because of her insecurity and hormones! And I’m like:

Sure, I know pregnancy hormones and shit, but c’mon Emma, you took it a little too far! But she’s so damn likable, I didn’t hate her for it. I mean poor Emma, she just wants the wedding and baby and perfect fairytale, however she can make it happen. And so do I. I couldn’t wait for the wedding, I mean look at the name of the book!

And though I hate spoilers, I do want to tell you that there is an HEA in this book, and a satisfying one-NO CLIFFHANGER! . There was also some pretty sexy scenes.

“Handcuffs, massage oil, some edible underwear-”
Aidan held up his hand. “No need to explain anymore. You had me at handcuffs,”

But then……..she used them on him!!!! Honestly, I think that was part of the problem, Emma needed this:

 But got a little too much of this:

Likes:

• I really like Emma, she reminds me of

• The same snarky, witty writing we had in the first book, especially with Casey, Emma’s BFF.
• Amazing epilogue.
• Emma’s grandparents were awesome and I loved their story.
• The fact that it wasn’t delayed like every other book!

Dislikes:

• This one was a little cheesier than the first. There was electricity shooting up Emma’s arm every time she touched Aiden. One of my friends says it happened to her once. And I honestly believe it, but it has been overused in books of late.
• Aiden was a bit too….wuss for me. OK, a lot too wuss. Check out the name of this blog….Alpha Males in Sexy Tales-Aiden just lost his edge to me. It was sexy, but I needed more of the alpha Aiden was in the first book.

Rating: 4.25 Heat 3.75

I really love Katie Ashley’s writing. It’s filled with light, fun, banter; romance, sexy times, emotions up the wazoo, a fun friend and hot guys! What is there not to love!? I also saw that there is going to be a companion novel released called “The Pairing” which will be about Pesh and Aiden’s single-mom niece, Megan.  As well as a few other books Katie plans on releasing this year! I’m so looking forward to it!

“There’s going to be good times and bad times and heart ache and joy. Don’t ever think that because of what happened before that your love isn’t as strong or as beautiful as anyone else’s. its the love that goes through the hardest trials and survives that is worth having.”

Purchase The Proposal at

Amazon

**Book was provided by Katie Ashley for the purposes of review.

Now……welcome to Ana’s Attic………Emma!!!!

As she walks in for this interview I see where all the pregnancy hype comes from! Emma is dripping with warm and a smile on her face when it comes to the little bundle of joy. I got her a really cute cake!

Thank you for taking time to chat with us today Emma and just so you know I will make this quick and painless for you! Make yourself comfy! Have some cake! Actually, don’t…it’s too cute to eat.

I have to know…with a bestie like Casey I am sure you have heard and seen it all! Why is it that Aidan can still make you blush?
*laughs nervously* Because he’s a man—a very experienced man, and I’m very naïve when it comes to dating and men in general. The things he says, in and out of the bedroom, take me by such surprise sometimes that I can’t help but be embarrassed. And he loves to see me blush, so he’s always trying to tease me.

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Speaking of besties how lucky for you that your two best friends get along! How did Casey and Connor become close (beside their love of you)?
Connor and I have been best friends since middle school, and when I started dating my late fiancée, Travis, we would all hang out together. Connor is one of those guys who gets along with everybody—he just has that type of personality. When Travis went to medical school at Emory, he met Nate and Casey. So we all just became this big group. After I lost Travis and my mom, Casey and Connor became unified in protecting and loving me. They’re really more like my brother and sister as well as my friends.

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Ok the good stuff now…Good God Girl, how were you able to pass Aidan by during your first meeting at the Christmas party?
*rolls eyes* Ugh, because he acted like such a cocky jerk! I was really attracted to him too, but he just killed it for me. I mean, it was one thing to hear about what kinda sleaze he was from Casey and my friends, but then he came swaggering up to me with this “You’re gonna beg me to devour you look”. I’m not a big fan of alpha men, so his whole act did nothing for me. I know it worked on countless women, but I wanted no part of it.

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I know things are rough now, and I am sorry for that, but what is the one thing you really love about Aidan? And what (besides the commitment-phobia) would you change if you could?
His compassion. He really is just as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside when you strip away all his layers. The thing I would change about him is that he would let others see the sensitive side of him. I think he fears being unmanly, but when lets down his guard, he is so amazingly tender and caring.

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You can truly see the love he has for you. How hard was it to sing that Patsy Cline song to him at the barn dance? The words only…OMG!
At the time, I didn’t know exactly how Aidan felt…I hoped that he felt more—that he loved me. But yes, it was very difficult. All my life from the baby to the husband seemed to be just one long dream that never seemed to be coming true.

Speaking of the barn. I love that you have such a great relationship with your grandparents. What was the best advice they ever gave you? The best advice my grandmother gave me was to never doubt the strength of my love for Aidan just because of what had happened to us in the past. They both showed me how to overcome the obstacles life put in your way with strength and dignity as well as weathering life’s storms together as a couple.

So I have to know, Pesh? What’s going on girl? I am guessing he is hot and all but Aiden…. Aiden! You know all men can be just as much work as kids (which you will soon find out) but we all know you love him! Can you give us and insight as to what you’re thinking? Inquiring mind have to know.
I think it’s so easy to say what someone else would do if they were in your shoes. It’s been hard not to run back to Aidan with open arms. I’m gun-shy and emotionally wounded right now. He broke my heart just when I had begun to love again after such a painful time in my life. That, coupled with being pregnant and cheated on, makes it very hard to trust him again. I’ve lost everyone that I loved, so that’s why I’ve been so cautious with Aidan.

Oh, and if a stranger {me} had to compare Pesh and Aiden…who is hotter?
*Blushes* I don’t know…Frankly, I can’t believe either one of them were interested in me, especially when I’m pregnant. I mean, they’re both very good-looking in completely different ways. Aidan has that All-American blonde hair and blue eyed, good looks and charm, and Pesh is all internationally tall and handsome.

So we are all excited for the little guy to come but is there just a little part that wanted a girl? Did you have a name picked out if it was a girl? Knowing the female role models in your life I know you have some great name to choose from.
Yes, I really hope to have a daughter one day. We really like old names and family names. Aidan’s late mother was Caroline, so I’d love to name a girl after her. Ava is a favorite of ours as well. I’d love to maybe use my middle name, that was also my late mother’s name, Katherine, somehow as well.

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So I know you can’t dish it all but what are you feeling the next 5 years will bring for you?
First, I can’t wait to meet Noah and have my dreams of motherhood finally come true. Second, I hope that there is peace and contentment between Aidan and myself. I want us…to be man and wife and to be a family. I’d love to have more children as well.

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Alright, since I happen to be the pervy one here (Casey is SOOOOOO me) I need to know……I know you have a really hot sex life with Aiden, but do you secretly want him to take control a little more? He lets you lead a lot, and you know, those things you got at your baby shower can be used against you……
*blushes and giggles nervously* You know I really don’t see it as me leading or him leading. I think we both enjoy other—I mean, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with his sex-drive, lol. I think Aidan wasn’t used to giving up control in the bedroom, and I was never used to taking it. That makes for a very interesting time—plus you have to remember that for most of our relationship, I was pregnant and had out of control hormones to contend with.
He makes me feel so beautiful and desirable that it brings out my naughty side—I want to please him and receive pleasure myself. Just because a woman doesn’t have a lot of sexual partners in her past, doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy sex or doesn’t take pleasure in love-making.
And as for my treat box, well….he’s convinced me to use quite a few of them. *grins shyly*

Ok last question. I am sure you have to go home and let Beau out. My last question is actually about him. I love the bond you both had. Was it hard to take him with you after…you know the fight? Man’s best friend and all?
I so wanted a dog when Beau came into my life. When I was five, my father gave me a black lab puppy just like Beau. I had Belle until I was a freshman in college. After I lost her, I couldn’t bear to get another dog for so long. And then came Beau…he’s one of the most loyal dogs I’ve ever seen.
Well, I did hate to take him from Aidan, but he told me to. And Beau came willingly. I knew over the weeks of mine and Aidan’s separation that Beau missed Aidan, but he stuck by side. Dogs have a sixth sense about things, and I think Beau felt the need to protect Noah and me more than he did Aidan.

Emma thank you so much for stopping by to talk with me today! I know you have been going through a lot and I just want you to know that we are all with you in sprit! We are rooting for your happy ending!

Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

 

Related Posts:

• Review of The Proposition
• My Favorite Books of 2012
• Top Picks: Books with Hot Sex and Great Stories 

Want to meet Katie Ashley? Check out the Wicked Girls Book Weekend!